General: The Japanese cornel is native to eastern China, Korea, and Japan. It often grows here as a shrub or small tree in forests, on the edge of the forest or in bushes. The Japanese Cornelian cherry is very similar to the European Cornelian cherry. The special feature of this plant are the golden yellow tufts of flowers that appear on bare branches, usually in winter or early spring. In the course of the year, this produces shiny red fruits, which are still used today in traditional East Asian medicine. The leaves of the cornel are elliptical, shiny green and have reddish-brown hairs in the axils of the leaf veins that are typical of the species on the underside. In autumn the leaves change color and fall off. The wood grows extremely dense and is therefore very hard and weather-resistant.
Care as a bonsai: The glorious blooms and bright red fruits of the cornel are certainly one of the main reasons why it should not be missing in any bonsai collection. As a shrub, it flowers and produces fruit when it is only 3-5 years old. In addition, their ability to cut and grow creates further good conditions for a successful bonsai design. The soil should not be kept too dry in summer. However, waterlogging must also be avoided. The Cornelian cherry loves a bright location, but sheltered from strong summer sun. The plant species is very hardy but older specimens should in any case be protected from late frosts in spring.
